This Is Not The Jess Show by Anna Carey | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“A fantastically smart, funny, and thoughtful thriller.”—Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star

The year is 1998: Titanic just won six Oscars, boy bands are dominating MTV’s airwaves, and like any other teenager Jess Flynn is just trying to survive high school. Between a crush on her childhood best friend, overprotective parents, and her sister’s worsening health, the only constant is her hometown of Swickley, which feels smaller by the day.

Jess is resigned to her small-town life, until the day she discovers a mysterious device with an apple logo, causing her to question everything and everyone she’s ever known. As more cracks appear in Jess’s world, she faces a choice: can she live the rest of her life knowing it’s a lie, or should she risk everything for the truth?
 
A fast-paced, mind-bending YA thriller packed with ’90s pop culture references and perfect for fans of Riverdale, This Is Not the Jess Show will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Now with an excerpt from the explosive and thrilling conclusion, This Is Not the Real World!

I didn’t quite know what to expect from This Is Not The Jess Show by Anna Carey. All I really knew was that my friend Andi at Andi’s ABCs recommended it and so that was really enough to get me to pick this book up. Going in, I was aware that there were themes in the plot similar to The Truman Show and that was it. This story was quite a ride – different from the other book I read by Anna Carey – Blackbird – but still very thrilling.

This Is Not The Jess Show by Anna Carey follows Jessica Flynn who lives in the town of Swickley. The year is 1998. Titanic has just won an Oscar. Jessica lives the average suburban life. Only, nothing is as it seems. You see, it actually isn’t the year 1998. Jessica’s life and story is similar to The Truman Show – where she learns reality is manufactured and not how she perceives it. And so, on a quest for the truth, Jessica escapes the set and encounters the real world – the year 2037 for the first time.

Friends I don’t want to give up any spoilers. I went into this book mostly not knowing a whole lot and that was IDEAL. For the most part, I thought This Is Not The Jess Show was a wild, fast paced ride. While I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of the characters, I was rooting for Jess. There is a romance in this book and let me say I didn’t really care too much for it. It came out of nowhere, but I guess when you endure something traumatic together, maybe those feelings end up developing. Still, it just didn’t read as true or real for me. I think if you want a book that will keep you hooked, this is the one, even if the romance isn’t it.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

• Stay Awake by Megan Goldin | Audiobook Review - May 10, 2025
• Mapping The Interior by Stephen Graham Jones | Novella Review - May 4, 2025
• Suddenly A Murder by Lauren Muñoz | Audiobook Review - May 3, 2025